TOKYO - Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said Monday that Japan is considering what it can do within its legal constraints to ensure the safety of Japanese-related vessels and their crews in the Middle East amid the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran.
Takaichi's remarks during a parliamentary session came after U.S. President Donald Trump demanded in a social media post that other nations including Japan deploy warships to the Strait of Hormuz to secure oil shipments.
Asked by an opposition lawmaker whether Japan would deploy Self-Defense Forces vessels, Takaichi said it is hard to answer a hypothetical question since the United States has yet to make such a request, but her government is mulling "necessary responses."
Takaichi also said she will convey Japan's views regarding the Middle East situation to Trump when they hold summit talks scheduled for later this week in Washington.
At the session, Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said the government has no plan "as of now" to send the SDF to the Middle East, on which Japan depends for over 90 percent of its crude oil and 11 percent of its liquefied natural gas.
Trump said Saturday on social media that he wants Japan and other nations to send warships to the Strait of Hormuz to ensure the safety of the vital energy shipping route, which Iran has effectively blocked in response to attacks launched by the United States and Israel late last month.
During an interview with NBC News, Trump said it is not clear whether Iran has placed mines in the strait but noted, "We're going to sweep the Strait of Hormuz very strongly, and we believe we'll be joined by other countries that are somewhat impeded from getting oil."
While SDF activities overseas are restricted under Japan's war-renouncing Constitution, the government can order SDF vessels to accompany ships linked to Japan in maritime security operations that permit the use of weapons for defensive purposes.
The government has expanded the role of the SDF overseas through security legislation that took effect in 2016, but sending personnel to areas where they could become embroiled in fighting remains controversial.
Among the other countries Trump named directly as those he hopes will dispatch warships to the Middle East, South Korea's presidential office said Seoul will "communicate closely" with Washington and make a decision "after a careful review."
Australia, which was not mentioned by Trump, does not plan to send navy ships, Transport Minister Catherine King said in an interview with a local broadcaster.
"We won't be sending a ship to the Strait of Hormuz. We know how incredibly important that is, but that's not something that we've been asked or that we're contributing to," the minister said.
In a related move, Koizumi and his U.S. counterpart Pete Hegseth agreed in phone talks Sunday to maintain close communication, the Japanese Defense Ministry said Monday.
Koizumi told Hegseth that it is "extremely important" for Japan and the international community to maintain peace and stability in the Middle East, including the Strait of Hormuz, and Tokyo will communicate with related countries including the United States, the ministry said.
Hegseth said the Middle East situation will not necessitate any changes to the posture of the U.S. forces in Japan, reiterating the United States' commitment to strengthening the deterrence and response capabilities of the bilateral alliance, according to the ministry.
